University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Curtain Rises on Softball's 2022 Campaign Friday at Lamson Park
2/9/2022 7:03:00 PM | Softball
No. 19 Louisiana ready to blend talent together, maintain program standards
LAFAYETTE - For fifth-year head coach Gerry Glasco the 2022 season could be viewed as a blank canvas and he is the artist equipped with a palette prepared to craft a work of art from many different ingredients.
The proverbial painting of the picture begins when the 19th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (47-12, 21-3 Sun Belt in 2021) officially launch the 2022 campaign on Friday, Feb. 11 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park with a 4 p.m. doubleheader vs. UAB. It's the start of the 36th Annual Louisiana Classics that continues at Lamson Park with matchups on Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. North Texas at 1 p.m. and Texas Southern at 3:30 p.m., followed by the tournament finale vs. Tulsa on Sunday, Feb. 13 at Noon.
With the goal of creating a masterpiece that meets the program's standards - competing for championships, being one of the Top 25 teams in the country and pursing a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series - Glasco's chief task is going to be blending the old with the new, as well as veterans with the youth.
The Ragin' Cajuns went from a roster in 2021 that was predominantly sixth-year and fifth-year players to a group in 2022 that includes eight freshmen and 12 total newcomers. Louisiana ushered out eight seniors – a group that included multi-year contributors Summer Ellyson, Alissa Dalton and Julie Rawls – who had a profound impact on the program's success.
While there's plenty of newness and unknowns leading up to first pitch on Friday, Glasco has been a first-hand witness to the tremendous potential the group possesses. After all, the new kids on the block were part of the recruiting class that was rated the No. 1 group of the 2021 recruits by Extra Inning Softball. Also, first team All-Sun Belt performer Kandra Lamb is back in the circle, the power bats of Raina O'Neal and Taylor Roman return, and a quartet of Power 5 transfers were infused to increase the level of experience.
"We have a really broad skillset, where we can play a powerful lineup, play a fast lineup, play a defensive lineup and play an offensive lineup and still be competitive," Glasco said. "That is the exciting thing about this program right now. There is a lot of talent and speed all over the field.
"I think you'll see a lot of rotating and platooning early, because it's such a young team," Glasco added. "It may just be a matter of one player getting comfortable and hot and another player not getting comfortable. It's pretty balanced. There are 12 or 13 players who can really play."
Since gathering in the fall for the first time, then reconvening for preseason after the winter break, it's been a daily dose of excitement for Glasco.
"The most fun thing for me is seeing young kids develop and teaching good hitters to become better hitters and watching defenders become better defenders and watching young pitchers mature," Glasco said. "That is the real enjoyment for me."
Now with the 2022 season arriving, the loyal Louisiana Softball fan base can share in Glasco's excitement of watching the next edition of the Ragin' Cajuns develop from day-to-day, week-to-week and begin to write their chapter of success in the program's storied history.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: Ready to be Louisiana's next primary catcher, Sophie Piskos is back with her infectious energy and enthusiasm and is ready to build upon last season's strong finish (hit .429 from April 20 onward). Back from injury, Taylor Roman could man the first base bag plenty along with Washington transfer Stormy Kotzelnick. Power 5 transfers Ari Quiñones (Washington) and Jourdyn Campbell (Texas A&M) appear to be the front runners at second base and third base, respectively. Both senior Melissa Mayeux and freshman Alexa Langeliers are expected to get opportunities at shortstop. Mayeux could rotate around the infield at the other three spots.
Outfield: The Ragin' Cajuns get their "rock" in center field back in Raina O'Neal. O'Neal, who missed the final three months of the 2021 season due to injury, provides a tremendous boost defensively and offensively (has hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with Louisiana). Senior Jenna Kean has had an exceptional fall and preseason practice period, potentially shoring up a spot in right field - and will be the team's primary speed option in the stolen base department. Freshmen Kramer Eschete and Maddie Hayden could be the newcomers who join the patrol in the outfield, serving as options in left field and right field.
Pitchers: The coaches expect a true "pitching staff" in the circle to be the norm throughout the season. Kandra Lamb, who pitched a three-hit shutout of LSU in her final start of the 2021 season, is ready to take her turn as the leader. Kentucky-transfer Meghan Schorman and freshman Sam Landry are expected to round out the rotation of "starters" with Lamb. Schorman was off to a 7-1 start with a 1.30 ERA before the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, while Landry was the No. 4-rated recruit by Extra Inning Softball and shined in last summer's Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) High School Senior All-American Game. Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath should play a role in relief assignments to further deepen the staff approach.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
The proverbial painting of the picture begins when the 19th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns (47-12, 21-3 Sun Belt in 2021) officially launch the 2022 campaign on Friday, Feb. 11 at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park with a 4 p.m. doubleheader vs. UAB. It's the start of the 36th Annual Louisiana Classics that continues at Lamson Park with matchups on Saturday, Feb. 12 vs. North Texas at 1 p.m. and Texas Southern at 3:30 p.m., followed by the tournament finale vs. Tulsa on Sunday, Feb. 13 at Noon.
With the goal of creating a masterpiece that meets the program's standards - competing for championships, being one of the Top 25 teams in the country and pursing a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series - Glasco's chief task is going to be blending the old with the new, as well as veterans with the youth.
The Ragin' Cajuns went from a roster in 2021 that was predominantly sixth-year and fifth-year players to a group in 2022 that includes eight freshmen and 12 total newcomers. Louisiana ushered out eight seniors – a group that included multi-year contributors Summer Ellyson, Alissa Dalton and Julie Rawls – who had a profound impact on the program's success.
While there's plenty of newness and unknowns leading up to first pitch on Friday, Glasco has been a first-hand witness to the tremendous potential the group possesses. After all, the new kids on the block were part of the recruiting class that was rated the No. 1 group of the 2021 recruits by Extra Inning Softball. Also, first team All-Sun Belt performer Kandra Lamb is back in the circle, the power bats of Raina O'Neal and Taylor Roman return, and a quartet of Power 5 transfers were infused to increase the level of experience.
"We have a really broad skillset, where we can play a powerful lineup, play a fast lineup, play a defensive lineup and play an offensive lineup and still be competitive," Glasco said. "That is the exciting thing about this program right now. There is a lot of talent and speed all over the field.
"I think you'll see a lot of rotating and platooning early, because it's such a young team," Glasco added. "It may just be a matter of one player getting comfortable and hot and another player not getting comfortable. It's pretty balanced. There are 12 or 13 players who can really play."
Since gathering in the fall for the first time, then reconvening for preseason after the winter break, it's been a daily dose of excitement for Glasco.
"The most fun thing for me is seeing young kids develop and teaching good hitters to become better hitters and watching defenders become better defenders and watching young pitchers mature," Glasco said. "That is the real enjoyment for me."
Now with the 2022 season arriving, the loyal Louisiana Softball fan base can share in Glasco's excitement of watching the next edition of the Ragin' Cajuns develop from day-to-day, week-to-week and begin to write their chapter of success in the program's storied history.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Infield: Ready to be Louisiana's next primary catcher, Sophie Piskos is back with her infectious energy and enthusiasm and is ready to build upon last season's strong finish (hit .429 from April 20 onward). Back from injury, Taylor Roman could man the first base bag plenty along with Washington transfer Stormy Kotzelnick. Power 5 transfers Ari Quiñones (Washington) and Jourdyn Campbell (Texas A&M) appear to be the front runners at second base and third base, respectively. Both senior Melissa Mayeux and freshman Alexa Langeliers are expected to get opportunities at shortstop. Mayeux could rotate around the infield at the other three spots.
Outfield: The Ragin' Cajuns get their "rock" in center field back in Raina O'Neal. O'Neal, who missed the final three months of the 2021 season due to injury, provides a tremendous boost defensively and offensively (has hit .300-plus and slugged .500-plus all three previous seasons with Louisiana). Senior Jenna Kean has had an exceptional fall and preseason practice period, potentially shoring up a spot in right field - and will be the team's primary speed option in the stolen base department. Freshmen Kramer Eschete and Maddie Hayden could be the newcomers who join the patrol in the outfield, serving as options in left field and right field.
Pitchers: The coaches expect a true "pitching staff" in the circle to be the norm throughout the season. Kandra Lamb, who pitched a three-hit shutout of LSU in her final start of the 2021 season, is ready to take her turn as the leader. Kentucky-transfer Meghan Schorman and freshman Sam Landry are expected to round out the rotation of "starters" with Lamb. Schorman was off to a 7-1 start with a 1.30 ERA before the COVID-19 shutdown in 2020, while Landry was the No. 4-rated recruit by Extra Inning Softball and shined in last summer's Premier Girls Fastpitch (PGF) High School Senior All-American Game. Vanessa Foreman and Karly Heath should play a role in relief assignments to further deepen the staff approach.
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
Fans are encouraged to stay engaged with the Ragin' Cajuns by downloading the #GeauxCajuns app. Click here for iOS/Apple platforms and here for Android platforms.
-- RaginCajuns.com --
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P/OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
P
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